This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

There are 10 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page.

Rabbits are very intelligent, social animals that can be trained quite easily. Unfortunately, many humans fail to train their rabbits, either because they use the wrong approach, or they don’t spend enough time on training. If you want to build a better relationship with your bunny, and train them right, you simply need to hop right in and get started!

Steps

Method1

Understanding Rabbit Behavior

1

Understand what motivates your rabbit. Rabbits are very intelligent and eagerly respond to incentives. This means that strong punishment, such as spanking or yelling at a rabbit, won’t make it more cooperative. If you use incentives correctly, however, most rabbits will respond accordingly.

Food is generally used as motivator, but toys may also be a reward for your rabbit.

Rabbits are prey animals, so if they feel frightened, they will usually flee and try to find somewhere to hide. If they exhibit this behavior, it means that you need to find a way to make them feel more comfortable and safer before attempting to train them.

2

Understand how a rabbit uses sight and smell. Bunnies do not see well directly in front of their faces. Their eyes are set far apart on the head and so they see to the side and far away better than up close.

The rabbit will use scent and whisker feedback to detect anything in the immediate environment more so than sight, so you will want to place treats under the rabbit’s nose and mouth.

You may notice that rabbits change their head position as you get closer. This is an effort to see you better, like a person with bifocals trying to get the glasses and their eyes lined up to see.

Rabbits are prey animals and need to see predators from far away, so that they can run and hide in time to save themselves.[1] Because of this, before you touch it, you need to let the rabbit see and smell you. This will give you an easier time handling the rabbit. By letting it see and smell you, it can verify that you are not a predator, and therefore no danger to it.

3

Remember that kindness goes a long way with a rabbit. Rabbits respond to kindness and will make excellent companions who will respond positively to your voice and presence if you treat them well. While you must have your rabbit’s respect in order to train it, you’ll be most successful if your rabbit also feels loved and comfortable in your presence.

Not all rabbits enjoy being stroked, but some enjoy it so much that stroking can be an even better incentive than food. Spend plenty of quality time petting your rabbit, and attend to all its basic needs so that it feels secure and comfortable in your home.

Never hold your bunny by the ears! Don't hurt your rabbit. Be kind and gentle to your fluffy friend and it will respond more positively to your training.

Method2

Training Your Rabbit to Follow Commands

1

Devote plenty of time to training. For best results plan on initially devoting a little time every day to training your rabbit. Two or three short sessions of 5 to 10 minutes at a time will keep your bunny interested in learning.[2]

2

Use your rabbit’s favorite treats. Since training is based on incentives, you’ll need to find a treat that provides the most positive response. If you don’t know what your rabbit’s favorite treat is experiment a little. You can offer a new food, in small amounts to avoid digestive upset, once a day and watch the rabbit’s response. If they leave it alone, then it won’t work as a treat, but if the bunny munches it right down, you have a winner.

If you’re not sure if a particular food is safe for your rabbit, check with your veterinarian (one that is familiar with rabbits). Do not feed anything but vegetables, greens, or fruit to your bunny.

If your rabbit is not used to eating much fruit or fresh greens, go easy on the amounts for a few weeks to avoid causing diarrhea or digestive upset.[3]

Your rabbit may like Blueberries or Kale or Carrot (try shreds of carrot) as a treat.[4]

3

Get your rabbit in position for training. Stage your training in the area and situation where and when you will want the behavior to occur. For example, if you want to teach your rabbit to jump up on your lap when called, first put it near the couch. If you want to train it to go in its crate at night, train it around the appropriate time, and make sure its crate is positioned where it will normally be.

4

Have a plan. Start simple. Carefully plan what you want your rabbit to perform and break that task down into small steps. You will reward the rabbit after completing each new step. Once the rabbit is performing the task with regularity and confidence, give the command a name.

5

Give your rabbit a treat immediately when your rabbit does something you want to reward. If the rabbit sits up as you lift your hand above its head as if sitting up to beg, give the treat right away to reinforce “sit up.” The reward will need to be given within 2-3 seconds of the behavior.

If the rabbit does something else before you give the treat, you are reinforcing the wrong behavior.

If you want to teach your rabbit to come when called, start its training by having it positioned very close to you. When it comes to you, give it the reward. Be consistent so that your fluffy companion knows why it's getting treats.

Use the exact same commands, such as “Sit, (Your Rabbit's Name),” or “Up, (Your Rabbit's Name),” every time, so your rabbit will learn to recognize your requests and associate those exact words with getting a treat.

Add praise to the act of giving the treat. For instance, “Good Sit” or “Good Up.”

6

Keep providing the treats until your rabbit responds correctly nearly every time. When you’re trying to teach a new skill, don’t skimp on the rewards. You need to make sure you are thoroughly conditioning your rabbit.

If you are training your rabbit to allow a harness to be placed, start with rewarding the bunny for going over to the harness on the floor and sniffing or touching the item. Work up to placing the harness on the bunny’s back and rewarding them for staying still. Reward the bunny for calmly allowing you to lift up a front leg then work up to placing their foot through the appropriate part of the harness. Reward as you go and move slowly. Don’t frighten or rush the rabbit. Once you have the harness in place, allow the rabbit to wear it for a few minutes at a time and take it off. Work up to having the rabbit drag the leash around the house before picking up the leash yourself.

7

Consider using clicker training. Many people suggest using clickers to reinforce association.[5] Each time you feed the rabbit, click the clicker so that the rabbit associates the click with food. Then, when you’re training, a click from the device tells the rabbit a treat is coming.

Try to click right as the desired behavior is happening so the animal knows what it did to get the reward. Give the rabbit a treat or something else they enjoy within a few seconds of the click for each and every time you click, even if you click accidentally. The rabbit will learn that a click means a treat and try to earn clicks.

8

Wean your rabbit off the treats gradually. Once your rabbit has a skill down begin to give the treats less frequently. Give its reward once and then don’t the next time, or give it a treat only every few times. Eventually you may not need treats at all.

In time, reward your rabbit with petting and toys and only use food occasionally to keep the behavior strong.

Rabbits like gentle strokes on their heads. Do not stroke the rabbit on its body; this is alarming to a rabbit. Be patient and take things slowly to avoid creating fear in your rabbit.

9

Reinforce the training as necessary. From time to time your rabbit may need to relearn a skill. That is, you may need to bring the incentives back. Don’t be afraid to do so.

Never scold, punish, shout or even say "no" to the rabbit during training. This is counterproductive and will make your rabbit more fearful and delay training.

Method3

Training Your Rabbit to Use a Litter Box

1

Figure out where your rabbit is eliminating. They naturally choose a particular spot in the cage to eliminate. Because they use the same spot repeatedly, you can use this to your advantage.

2

Place a little of the dirty bedding in the litter box you bought for their cage. This will encourage the rabbit to use the litter box. Make sure to clean the rest of the cage after moving a bit of the dirty bedding.

3

Place the litter box in the place the rabbit has chosen to eliminate. There are litter boxes for rabbits made to fit in the corners of cages or you can use a rectangular version if the cage is large enough. If you position is right, the rabbit should naturally continue to use the same spot, only this time it will be in the litter box.

Of course, larger litter boxes are possible when the rabbit is enjoying “bunny hop” time outside the cage.

Method4

Addressing Rabbit Aggression

1

Make sure your rabbit knows who is in charge. Chances are your rabbit will want to rule the house. While you can’t expect the kind of submission you can get from a dog, you must have the respect of your rabbit in order to train it.

The most common way rabbits try to assert dominance is inappropriate nipping or biting you to try to herd you or get you to leave your sitting place. If this occurs, let out a short, loud, high-pitched squeal and either put your rabbit down on the floor (if it has jumped up where you’re sitting) or pick it up and move it out of the way from you (if it is on the floor already). Do this firmly, but gently. You don’t want to hurt your rabbit or make it fear you, you simply want to assert that you are in charge. If your rabbit continues the behavior, put it in its crate for a “time-out.”

2

Address any aggression in your rabbit. First, approach your rabbit calmly so you do not elicit a fear response from the rabbit. Hang out on the floor with your rabbit. Have some treats on the floor. Reward the rabbit for coming closer to you. Leave your hand down. If the rabbit comes up to you and does not seem afraid or does not try to bite you, try to gently stroke the rabbit's head for just a few seconds.

If you do not back down and avoid the reflex to “run away” if the bunny charges you, the rabbit will learn that this behavior does not work to intimidate you.[6]

Never hit the rabbit. You and your hands are the sources of food and pleasure, like petting on top of the rabbit’s head.

If you are afraid of being injured, wear long pants, shoes, long sleeves and gloves if necessary to protect yourself from bites.[7]

3

Investigate whether your rabbit's aggression has an underlying cause. A change in your rabbit’s behavior, including aggression, should be investigated to eliminate the chance that there is a medical issue causing the problem.[8] Consult with a veterinarian familiar with rabbits to rule out pain, for instance, as a cause for misbehavior.

Hormones can also influence bunny behavior and having your rabbit spayed or neutered may help decrease territorial aggression, for instance.

Community Q&A

Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

Rabbits are ground dwelling creatures and so it is very alarming for them to have their paws off the ground. It makes them panic. Have the rabbit get used to you and being handled first, and do this sitting on the ground. If you must pick your rabbit up, then cover his eyes with a towel. The darkness will reassure him, and he won't see how far away the ground is.

Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

It's fine to use the same type of clicker you use to train a dog. These are widely available from pet shops and the internet. If your rabbit finds the click-clack noise too loud and scary, then try pressing the end of a ballpoint pen to make a quieter clicking sound.

Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

Think of what wild rabbits like to eat, and you will start to get the picture. They love plants and herbage, especially shoots and tender leaves. Try to feed your rabbit different types of greens, vegetables, and fruit (although always check before giving a new food that it is safe to do so). Rabbits are particularly fond of dandelions, carrot tops, parsley, spinach (as an occasional treat), curly kale, celeriac, chicory leaves, and watercress.

Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

Rabbits find having their paws off the ground scary, so it's important to pick her up the correctly. If she seems like she might scratch you, place a towel over the rabbit (including her head, as this has a calming effect.) Hold her in both arms in a 'rugby ball' hold, with her body resting along your forearm and her rear tucked into your elbow. Use the other arm to cover her head so that she can't see how high she is and panic.

One way you can teach your bunny to come when it's called is to get up close to him/her and have their favorite treat, then say their name and say come then feed the treat. Repeat this a few times, then increase the distances until the bunny comes when called.

Guide its back and front paws up the stairs, a couple steps at a time. You can also try placing your bunny's favorite treats along each step, or sitting at the top of the stairs and calling your bunny.

Does your rabbit like to go into a spot where you cannot get to him/her easily? If so, put him/her in that spot. Then try to move your fingers and call him/her by its name. If it runs away, he/she does not trust you. If it sniffs your hand with it's nose, then it mostly trusts you. And if it comes to you, it trusts you!

Tips

If the rabbit squeals or squirms while you’re holding them, safely return them to the ground to avoid the chance for injury. Keep the hold secure so you don’t give the rabbit an opportunity to fear for its safety.

Some books about rabbit training to consider include: High Five With Your Rabbit by Bernice Muntz, Training Your Pet Rabbit by Patricia Bartlett, and Getting Started: Clicking with Your Rabbit by Joan Orr.

When holding your bunny and it is skittish or nervous, wrap them in a towel or blanket. They will calm down a bit.

Be gentle and understanding with your little friend, he or she has just made a huge transition into its little life. Being separated from its mother is a lot to handle alone, they don't need another problem so put yourself in your little buddy's shoe.

Make sure the bunny smells you or knows you very well then you will be able to train him or her.

Do not be rough with a rabbit. It is very easy to break their bones, and if they are upset, they may try to squirm away which could result in the rabbit hurting itself.

Don't use leashes during training, or walks. Many rabbits have died because of it. Rabbits necks are very fragile, and they might break their neck if they try to run or squirm away.

Never hold your rabbit upside down (like a baby). It will get scared, will damage your relationship, and it is not good for your rabbit.

If a rabbit 'flops' onto its back it is a sign, that it is very happy.

When training with rabbits make sure to use two syllable words. They will learn quicker that way. If your rabbit does the trick, say the words and give your bunny treats.

Warnings

Avoid overfeeding your rabbit during training sessions, and avoid using treats that aren’t healthy for your rabbit. In particular, exercise caution with manufactured rabbit treats. Many of these are unhealthy, especially in large quantities.

Don’t expect your rabbit to do what you want every time. Even if your rabbit is perfectly trained, he or she may not want to fulfill your request from time to time. Don’t get angry and don’t worry that your training hasn’t worked. As long as your rabbit responds as desired most of the time, don’t sweat those occasions when it isn’t feeling cooperative as it is only an animal.

Do not hit your rabbit under any circumstances, this could result in a serious injury to both you and your little friend.

Never withhold food from a rabbit to make it hungry for training. Always have fresh hay or grass and clean water available. The only thing this will do is hurt your rabbit.

To train your rabbit, start by gathering its favorite treats and finding an appropriate, safe place to do the training, like on the ground near its crate. Then, every time the rabbit does what you want it to do, immediately reward it with a treat. Once it responds correctly each time, you can start giving a verbal command as it does the trick, such as “Sit,” or “Up!” Continue to give your rabbit treats until it does it almost every time, then gradually replace food treats with praise. For tips from our Veterinary reviewer on how to use a clicker to train your rabbit, read on!

Article Info

FEATURED ARTICLE

This article was co-authored by Pippa Elliott, MRCVS. Dr. Elliott is a veterinarian with over thirty years of experience. She graduated from the University of Glasgow in 1987, and worked as a veterinary surgeon for 7 years. Afterward, Dr. Elliott worked as a veterinarian at an animal clinic for over a decade.

"Mainly to be kind always and what to feed them, as not all foods are suitable for a rabbit to eat. Also, to spend time with them, as rabbits are sociable creatures. I currently spend at least 4 hours a day with my dear bunnies. Thank you for your advice."..." more

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Anonymous

Dec 16, 2017

"I loved how the article told me what to do if my rabbit was squirming while I'm holding him. My rabbit does this often, and I've been wondering about it for a while. Thanks, wikiHow!"..." more

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Anonymous

Feb 22, 2017

"Am about to get a bunny, and I was searching how to take care of it. So far, everything I have clicked on have give me so much help on how to take care of the bunny. "..." more

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Angela Ruiz

Apr 29, 2017

"This was very helpful because I just got a Netherland Dwarf just 3 months old and training is a must have! The litter advice was the most helpful for him."..." more

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Lilu Shay

Sep 28, 2016

"It was amazing I am doing a project with my friend and this article might have got us a A. If all you said is true, then this really worked."..." more

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Aug 31, 2017

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Anonymous

Jul 28, 2016

"I think this article helped me a lot with my bunnies; now I know how to train and have them learn commands."

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Anonymous

Jan 1, 2018

"My lop is new to me. We caught him after we found him running around our yard in freezing weather!"

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May 6, 2017

"Just personally taking out the time to get to know my Lil'DeeBo, which is my pet rabbit. Thanks!"

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Dec 5, 2016

"Thank you! I appreciate that you guys made this article so I can understand more about bunnies."

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Anonymous

Jun 24, 2017

"it has helped me to train my rabbit. She follows any command although she's only 2 months old!"

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Anonymous

Jan 14, 2018

"We are brand new rabbit owners, so the article was very helpful and educational."

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Laureen B.

May 5, 2016

"I train dogs, and the methods are similar. Well-written, very clear and useful. "